The first time I met Doug we were attending a GVGRC get together and entered into a discussion about water features and ponds for garden railways. I was going on about how one could make an inexpensive under gravel filter out of a 2ft X 4ft lighting fixture "egg-crate". Doug said it might be too small for his pond. I explained that one could put two together. Again he suggested it might be too small for his pond. This was not going to stop me, put three together I suggested, that is 24 square feet of filter! At this point he suggested after the meet we go to his house and have a look. He had a 10ft rowboat and a 16ft canoe on this "pond"! There are no pictures here but there is a bridge, used by the Arabian horses, his wife raises and trains, to cross a narrow gap in the "pond", after which it widens up again and has two islands in it, each large enough to camp on. I realized that Doug's idea and my idea of a pond differed. My idea of a garden railway differs also. He builds what most of us dream. He has spent 2 years building his version of the Kettle Valley Railroad and runs a successful design and construction business also.

 

The main line is 900 feet with another 300 feet of logging line planned. The ruling radius is 10 feet and the ruling grade is 1%. As you can see he has some bridge and trestle work left to do which he has planned to finish by this summer. The track is Sunset Valley brass and the switches are #8 and larger, made by Doug. The entire track is set in ballast. One of the tunnels is 20 feet long with no access except from the ends; those of you that know me know I will not fit inside to retrieve derailed engines or rolling stock. The buildings are built from scratch by Doug's father-in-law, Gordon Harrison. Most of the trees you see are Alberta Spruce and the moss is natural.

The Big Boy is mine and the cars are MDC modified with Sierra Valley metal wheels and have body mount KD couplers. I do not use radio control and the 15-foot deep pond beside the track adds to the excitement, not to mention the sweat I work up running from one part of the railway to another to adjust the throttle for the grades. An Aster Big Boy will run over an hour on a flat track using one filling of butane and two tenders of water. On Doug's empire it uses twice that amount.

 

 

 

 

Working up hard upgrade...

 

Steam hangs on the trees through this cut...

 

No fear of heights here...

 

The pond is reportedly 15' deep.